Downtown
Lookouts Lyrics
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There was nobody there but me
Looked for the policeman on the corner
There was none that I could see
There were rats in the gutter they were giving me
the shudders
I was searching for my family
The last time I saw them they were living in the
Of a high rise facility
Burned out cars were clogging up the street
And lots of garbage but none that you could eat
And to the creatures of the night I was just a piece
of meat
I could hear the hungry howls dripping from their
slimy jowls
As I beat a quick retreat
I went down to the punk rock club
To see if any of my friends were around
The bouncer told me they were busy in the back
room
Butchering a dog theyd found
He said man you should have been here late last
night
They ate some boat people live on stage
And now the critics say that cannibalism
Is sure to be the latest craze
He showed me the bones piled high on the dance
floor
Said come back in a while theyre gonna eat a bunch
more
Its the kind of entertainment that the crowds really
go for
I could see his skanky eyes checking me out for size
As I headed out the door
The night was cloudy and the moon was dead
As I waded through pools of blood
I noticed as it dried it stuck to my shoes
Like the slimiest kind of mud
I wondered what I looked like
If my hairstyle was still all right
But there wasnt a mirror in sight
So I jumped into a taxi the drivers name was Maxie
But she soon dropped dead from fright
And all the while I was dreaming up a storm
Wiping my forehead cause I felt a little warm
Choking on the words that my mouth could not
quite form
I rolled over on my back and had another heart
attack
And hoped I wouldnt get reborn
The lyrics of Lookout's song "Downtown" paint a vivid and dystopian picture of a desolate cityscape, filled with despair, depravity, and a sense of hopelessness. The singer describes their journey downtown, where they find themselves alone, searching for familiar faces or any sign of life. The absence of a policeman and the presence of rats in the gutter create a feeling of unease and abandonment. The mention of searching for family in a high rise facility's basement hints at a fractured and dysfunctional relationship dynamic, perhaps reflecting the fractured nature of society itself.
The imagery of burned-out cars and heaps of inedible garbage adds to the atmosphere of decay and deterioration. The reference to being viewed as mere prey by the "creatures of the night" conveys a sense of vulnerability and danger lurking in the shadows. The howls of hunger and the singer's hasty retreat suggest a fear of being consumed or exploited in this bleak urban landscape. The bleakness is further emphasized as the singer seeks solace in a punk rock club, only to discover a gruesome scene of violence and barbarity, with friends engaged in cannibalistic acts that shock and repulse.
The nightmarish quality of the lyrics intensifies as the singer navigates through increasingly sinister and unsettling scenarios. The symbolic presence of pools of blood and the viscous residue sticking to their shoes create a disturbing and claustrophobic atmosphere. The lack of reflection in a mirror symbolizes a disconnect from one's own identity and reality, as the singer grapples with an overwhelming sense of disorientation and disconnection. The encounter with the taxi driver named Maxie, who meets a sudden demise, adds a surreal and ominous element to the narrative, blurring the lines between dream and reality.
As the song concludes, the singer's stream of consciousness reflects a sense of inner turmoil and disintegration. The physical and emotional toll is palpable as the singer struggles to articulate their thoughts and feelings, culminating in a metaphorical heart attack and a plea to avoid the possibility of rebirth into such a desolate and nightmarish world. "Downtown" captures a haunting and dystopian vision of societal decay, moral degeneracy, and existential despair, leaving the listener with a stark and unsettling portrayal of a city devoid of humanity and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I went downtown to have a look around
I ventured into the city center to explore
There was nobody there but me
I found that the area was deserted
Looked for the policeman on the corner
I searched for law enforcement officers nearby
There was none that I could see
But I did not spot any
There were rats in the gutter they were giving me the shudders
Seeing rats in the trash made me feel repulsed
I was searching for my family
I was hoping to find my loved ones
The last time I saw them they were living in the basement
I remember them residing in the lower level of a tall building
Burned out cars were clogging up the street
Abandoned vehicles blocked the road
And lots of garbage but none that you could eat
There was trash everywhere, but nothing edible
And to the creatures of the night I was just a piece of meat
I felt like prey to the night's predators
I could hear the hungry howls dripping from their slimy jowls
The sound of their hunger was chilling and unsettling
As I beat a quick retreat
So I hurriedly left the area
I went down to the punk rock club
I visited a punk rock venue
To see if any of my friends were around
In hopes of meeting my acquaintances there
The bouncer told me they were busy in the back room
The security guard informed me they were occupied in a private area
Butchering a dog they'd found
Engaged in a disturbing act involving an animal
He said man you should have been here late last night
He regretted my absence the previous evening
They ate some boat people live on stage
They consumed individuals on a performance platform
And now the critics say that cannibalism is sure to be the latest craze
Critics believe that cannibalism will become a popular trend
He showed me the bones piled high on the dance floor
He presented a stack of bones in the club's dancing area
Said come back in a while they're gonna eat a bunch more
Inviting me to return when more consumption would occur
It's the kind of entertainment that the crowds really go for
Indicating that the audience enjoys such gruesome shows
I could see his skanky eyes checking me out for size
I noticed his creepy gaze assessing me
As I headed out the door
Leaving the establishment
The night was cloudy and the moon was dead
The sky was overcast with a lifeless moon
As I waded through pools of blood
Walking through puddles of blood
I noticed as it dried it stuck to my shoes
Observing how the blood dried on my footwear
Like the slimiest kind of mud
Similar to the stickiest mud
I wondered what I looked like
I pondered my appearance
If my hairstyle was still all right
Concerned if my hair remained in good condition
But there wasn't a mirror in sight
With no mirrors around
So I jumped into a taxi the driver's name was Maxie
I hopped into a taxi driven by Maxie
But she soon dropped dead from fright
Unfortunately, she passed away due to fear
And all the while I was dreaming up a storm
I was consumed by vivid dreams
Wiping my forehead cause I felt a little warm
Perspiring slightly from the heat
Choking on the words that my mouth could not quite form
Struggling to articulate my thoughts
I rolled over on my back and had another heart attack
Experiencing a heart episode
And hoped I wouldn't get reborn
Wishing to avoid being born again
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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